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Friday, September 28, 2012
Blog Carnival Post: Magic Ala Mode Outfit Under $100 - SAY WHAT?!
12:00 AM | Edit Post
As I was mentioning, we all know that Lolita can be seriously expensive. With that in mind, the girls thought up a good idea of a challenge: Make a whole outfit for $100 or less. My outfit? I tried for a sweet more Otome/Casual Lolita style that could also work for a first date or work! Check out what I found below:
First off, I am a bit obsessed with I'm Your Present. Her creations are beyond fun and amazing, especially that new Ice Cream dress (which also comes in Mint!) But the best fun fact: All the other items are from Forever 21, a shopping girl on a budgets dream come true. Shirt, Socks, Shoes, Bows and Necklace can all be found there at your local locations (but go now since they sell super fast!) And all at just $95, lets just say in Lolita Fashion world that would be considered a steal. So curious to know , have you been able to make such an inexpensive coordinate? There are so many opportunities now with online stores, etsy and vintage finds that there is really no excuse nowadays to not afford even a simple outfit. So curious to see what others have found!
If you yourself are curious, check out the other participating blogs of Lolita Blog Carnival here too for their take on this weeks challenge:
Come back next Friday for another Lolita Blog Carnival post!
(HECK, I gotta tell you these things are fun! )
Labels: Lolita Blog Carnival | 3 comments
Monday, September 24, 2012
I Can Make It Anywhere: Broadway Flea Market 2012
8:47 AM | Edit Post
So the Broadway Cares Flea Market has passed, and to say it was a success is an understatement. The numbers haven't been officially tallied BUT I definitely gave my fair share and it looks like a lot of other individuals did too. I wanna say that there was definitely more then 5,000 people easily, probably more. But the person I cared about the most was my best musical buddy Bii, who dawned frills with me for the occasion! We got up ridiculously early, put on our best pastels, and headed to the Great White Way. (Sadly I didn't get an outfit shot, but half of New York took our picture so I am sure you will find it somewhere in the future.)
(Macaron shake from LT Burger, Once Guitar Cupcake, Crowd at the Silent Auction)
Highlights -
1) Peter and the Starcatcher was one of the best Broadway tickets I have ever had the pleasure of purchasing. Totally worth it, especially if you are a Peter Pan fan like myself. The costumes, sets (or lack there of) are used brilliantly, especially with a simple kitchen glove as a bird.
2) Purchasing a bag of "Kitty Crack" (chocolate covered rice crisp flakes in chunks) from The Lion King booth was excellent, possibly the best $4 you can spend and the most fun phrase you can say all day, it'll keep the heads turning!
3) Getting your picture taken by almost every single booth was pretty fabulous, and getting compliments on your wig from Broadway actors young and old is also pretty fabulous.
4) Attempting to find Bonnie and Clyde merchandise with no luck sucked, but getting 2 Dangerous Liasons mugs and the How to Succeed in Business revival cast album for a $1, full of luck.
5) Coming back home with not one, but two gifts for your equally Broadway obsessed mother is always the best reward for a day paving the streets of NYC.
But the best highlight of all was meeting my favorite bloggers, Patty and Emily, and watching them do their "shamazing" magic. Thanks for chatting with a me, ladies! It was a pleasure and I hope to see you next year! One day I hope I am as cool as them (a girl can dream!)
So am I going next year? The answer to that is I plan to now go every year and you should too, it is 100% worth it if you are a fan of theater. Bring your dollar bills and make it rain to fight the battle against AIDS, and see some sparkly Broadway stars!
Monday, September 10, 2012
Fashion Night Out 2012: A Night of Sightings
7:06 PM | Edit Post
So, as you all know I was heading off to Fashion Night Out, the 2012 edition. Its a night full of celebrities sights, free swag and of course, fashion (duh). So what did I do? Lets just say even though most of my time was spent by myself, it was seriously amazing and I would do it again (with more comfortable shoes) in a heart beat!
My outfit for the night, picture by Petrina
My night started off with heading off to 5th Ave - with all its favorite stores and locations. My main locale was Sax Fifth Avenue, which is definitely my favorite of the big department stores of Manhattan and probably period. The entire place is truly stunning and continues to amaze me every time I visit it. I went up to the third floor, possibly to try and meet Glee star Darren Criss (not a huge fan of the show, but of him? That is a different story!) and his special guest, the fashion goddess (or monster? Depends on your thoughts.) Anna Wintour of Vogue. Sadly, I didn't get there early enough to get anything signed and thus would have only been allowed to scream in his face. (I kid you not!) So I decided to miss the chance for such a... meeting, and decided to try for another awesome celebrity sighting, which this time was a success! I found the one the only, Miss Piggy from The Muppets was doing her New York finest and was hanging out with New York's Fireman at DKNY.
After finding my favorite Pig, FNO went off without (for the most part) a hitch. I found tons of fashionable people, especially at Juicy and Sax. And then a dream of mine came true, I met one of my general Fashion heroes, Erin Fetherston. Known for her simple elegant vintage inspired designs, Erin is also knowing for her always adorable signature bangs and personal style. First off, she is stunning and a class act in person, she even told me she loved my glasses and took the time to ask what I did for a living, even if I probably came off really fan-girly. Erin, if you ever read this, thank you so much for being so nice to me and even though I wasn't on line for the haircuts (Sorry ladies, I all ready have bangs!) it meant the world to me to be next to you.
At the end of the night, I was hoping to see Cyndi Lauper do a small set nearby, but the line was long and apparently it wasn't supposed to be a public event. But instead, I got my nostalgic middle school groove on and finished my night by seeing Vanessa Carlton perform a short concert in the shoe floor of Sax. I really can't express how magical it was to finally hear her sing live, especially of course hearing A Thousand Miles.
One last thing happened on the way home, My group stumbled upon a store (to sadly which I don't remember the name) had a group of dashingly dressed gentlemen and ladies outside. So of course, me being one that is always charmed by a dapper man, had to grab a picture. He was so sweet, and even had a charming British accent to go along with his lovely smile!
To further add, the other men that were working the food truck next door posed for my shaking camera skills in what I can only define as ultra kawaii pose #100.
In conclusion, Fashion Night Out was splendid and I hope to be there again with a pack of even more friends next time! Did anyone else check out FNO 2012? What stores did you go to? Are you gonna go next year? Speak up in the comments!
Monday, September 3, 2012
Magical Excitement: Broadway Flea Market 2012
4:56 PM | Edit Post
Its hard to believe it, but September is going to be a beyond awesome month for me in my social adventures. Next Friday, My boyfriend and friends will be all seeing Indiana Jones and The Raiders of the Lost Ark in IMAX (and prior I'll be taking the boy for his first visit to the Museum of Natural History!) Then the following week I am gonna be heading to The Big E, a month long festival nearby that features all the good old time fair things that I have been dreaming of all summer long! But what am I the most excited about more then anything? Something I have been waiting all year long for: Broadway Equity Fights AIDS Annual Broadway Flea Market. What happens at the Flea Market? Here is the official lowdown!
Broadway dreams can come true as you find showbiz treasures, meet the stars and bid on once-in-a-lifetime items and experiences at the 26th AnnualBroadway Flea Market & Grand Auction.
Make your plans now to spend Sunday, September 23 with Broadway Cares and thousands of other theatre fans in Times Square, Shubert Alley and along West 44th Street searching for those one-of-a-kind keepsakes. This not-to-be-missed event for any serious Broadway theatergoer is free and open to the public and has been called one of the "Best Once-a-Year Markets" in New York City.
From photos with your favorite Broadway star to buying that lost cast recording, signed show posters and Playbills, rare costume sketches or that special gift for a theatre-lover you can't find anywhere else - this year's Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction promises to offer something for everyone.
As a Broadway Musical fanatic, I am beyond excited for my first time at the Flea Market. I got my eyes set of getting some merchandise from my recent new discovery, Sunset Boulevard The Musical, along with anything Newsies I can get my hands on! Below is a video of my favorite Broadway musical bloggers, Patty and Emily, going to the Flea Market last year:
So anyone in New York planning to go? Anyone a big musical fan? Myself and my best friend Bii are gonna be in our frilly musical loving finest ready to get our Broadway on, and hopefully we will see you there. And for everyone else, are you doing something fun in September? I wanna know!
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subset: commoncrawl


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The NHL Draft will go tonight in Pittsburgh, and for the Canucks and General Manager Mike Gillis, tonight will be interesting – if nothing else.
Of course it could be more than interesting – it could be earth-shattering. Vancouver's NHL club may not have any high picks (as usual) but they do have an albatross contract that they'd presumably like to move (Ballard), and more importantly a star goaltender on a "toxic deal" whose rumoured trade is causing absurd levels of speculation.
Draft night for the Canucks could also go off with a whimper, but with Cory Schneider in need of a new contract, and Roberto Luongo having publicly admitted he'd waive his no trade clause in late April, massive shock-waves would reverberate from that decision too. If the Canucks move Luongo it will be the biggest deal the team makes on draft day by a country mile (it would be one of the biggest moves in team history, really) and by that same token, if they keep Luongo that logic still holds.
Going into this evening's draft, only one thing is really certain: that whoever the team picks with the 26th selection in the 2012 NHL entry draft will be second page news in Vancouver's sports pages tomorrow morning. That is unless they move up…
Let's summarize the relevant chatter regarding Luongo and Vancouver's first round pick, and do our best to preview a day of uncertainty for the Vancouver Canucks. Click past the jump for more!
For the most part, the Canucks have been in a holding pattern since the team's postseason ended several months ago. It may seem like the chatter has heated up in recent days, and trade talks between the Canucks and other clubs about Luongo almost certainly have, but the official party-line hasn't really budged an inch. For all intents and purposes, the club continues to say that they'll return Luongo to the roster next season if a "hockey deal that improves the club" isn't in the cards, that this is a "good problem," and that there is significant interest in Luongo from other teams around the league.
But from what corners is that interest emanating? For what it's worth, Tony Gallagher – a guy with closer ties to Mike Gillis than any other Vancouver hockey writer – listed Chicago, Florida, Toronto and Columbus as some potential destinations in a column today. Columbus is the most unlikely option, partly because it's hard to imagine that Luongo would waive his no-trade clause to join the NHL's equivalent of the Washington Generals. Anyway, Columbus just traded a valuable package of picks to Philadelphia in exchange for young Russian goaler Sergei Bobrovsky, so they could be out of the market.
Chicago remains a long-shot, and Bowman has denied any interest in Luongo. Meanwhile Florida has been a long-rumoured destination for Vancouver's three-time Vezina nominee – but the Panthers really don't appear to make any sense beyond them cropping up constantly in any column about potential Luongo destinations…
Which leaves Toronto, and old Gillis nemesis Brian Burke. There is a bewildering amount of posturing going on between these two,which, makes sense based on their history (tampering, Bure's trade request) and their blustery personalities. Burke apparently is getting frustrated with the Canucks, because Gillis and co. refuse to lay their cards on the table – and haven't made any specific demands or requests regarding which Leafs players they'd like to see come the other way.
It's a particularly loaded game of brinksmanship for both parties. While Gillis and Gilman claim that they'd be willing to return both Luongo and Schneider next season – that truly isn't feasible. In fact, it's just about as impractical as Toronto's publicly professed notion that they'd be willing to use a platoon of goaltenders prominently featuring James Reimer and Ben Scrivens next season – a tandem which would surely cost Brian Burke his job. Can these two put their personalities aside and make a deal? We'll see who blinks first…
As for whether or not we can expect a deal tonight, or tomorrow? Gilman had this to say yesterday: "I wouldn't want to make a prediction on it. There is interest right now. It is conceivable that we could make a deal this weekend. That being said, it's also possible that we don't do anything." Yep, lots of uncertainty and some potentially destructive interplay between two big personalities – it's going to be an interesting day!
Another Caper?
A fun quirk is that, at his media availability yesterday, Laurence Gilman appeared to throw a wrench in the wheel with a comment about how the team has "spoken to a number of general managers about both our goaltenders." These comments led to some speculation, most of it in jest, that maybe the Canucks have been playing some serious, high-level poker over the past three months in an effort to send Cory Schneider's value through the roof. Perhaps they've been making it appear as if the team would rather move Luongo, and is willing to move heaven and earth to do so, in an effort to force an opposing General Manager to offer the moon for the younger goaltender on the Canucks roster. If they ploy works, Gillis would then sell Schneider for toonies on the dollar. The twist: Luongo is in on the whole thing!
If that sounds crazy, that's because it is. But realisitcally, this wouldn't be the first time we've seen this administration use coy, hedgehog tactics to pump up an asset's value. This sort of thing is fun to think about, but it's also the silliest possible way of interpreting Gilman's comments yesterday. Gilman was just re-emphasizing, I think, the team's official stance of: "we're keeping our options open and are willing to return both goaltenders, and may even move Schneider."
Of course, if the Canucks have been playing a high-level shell game, that would be hilarious.
The 26th Pick
In looking at Gillis' draft record, we've noticed several trends: he always takes a goaltender on day two, and he never takes anything but a forward in round one, for example. Gilman spoke to that somewhat yesterday, summarizing the team's approach to the 26th pick as such (via the Province and Jason Botchford):
"If we were to assess a need we have, it'd be at forwards, perhaps centre in particular. That being said, in the four years we've been here and run the draft, we've picked the best player based on skill at the top part of the draft, in the first and second rounds. Then, we've started to address positional needs as the drafts unfolded."
So look for Vancouver's streak of selecting exclusively forwards on day one of the draft to continue tonight, that is if the team keeps their current pick…
Previous Articles About the NHL Draft:
- Mike Gillis' "Fishing Holes"
- Vancouver's Habit of Drafting Older Players
- Mike Gillis and Player Size
- Why is Mikhail Grigorenko Draft Stock Falling?
- A Graphic Guide to the NHL Draft


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I moderated a Webinar panel this month with CEDIA. It was an opportunity for the industry to get know the new CEDIA Chairman, Federico Bausone, better and to fire some hard-hitting questions at the assembled panelists.
If you follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter you were aware of it and hopefully able to join us. If you were unable to join us or would like to hear the archived Webinar again, please log onto customretailer.net and click on the Webinar button. In preparation for the panel I reached out to several CEDIA members and non-members alike, across the US.
One thing is certain, many of the integrators are either coming back slowly from the recession, or they have found niches in their particular markets to concentrate on for the future. One integrator told me that in some ways, as bad as the last few years have been, it's no different than the business model cycle we've always had: "In the early 90s we provided theaters and whole-house audio to doctors, in the late 90s it was the dot.com guys. In the early-mid 90s it was the Wall Street types…Now I have gone back to my previous clients, who don't want to or cannot move homes. Enough time has gone by, they figure they'll start putting money into the entertainment and automation of these homes they're going to stay in for the foreseeable future."
A major niche in many parts of the country is commercial design and integration; we've been talking about this potential for quite some time. As promised, our new column on Commercial Opportunities debuts this month. If you have something to add about the challenges of commercial integration, products or techniques that have made your life easier or just how you have worked with the business owner/corporation vs the homeowner, please drop me an email at firstname.lastname@example.com.
I would love to read and possibly share some of your electronic systems contractor experiences in the commercial realm; cautionary tales welcome!


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This is the second post in a two-part series on outsourcing among RIAs. In Part One, we discussed the overall outsourcing environment and technology outsourcing trends. In this post, we take a look at compliance outsourcing trends and important considerations for advisors looking to outsource their compliance duties.
When it comes to compliance, independent advisors today face more uncertainty and challenges than ever. As you're well aware, many of the regulatory changes ushered in by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to date have required firms to spend significant time and resources to remain compliant. Meanwhile, many portions of the act are still being discussed in an effort to clarify their intent, implementation and impact.
It's hardly surprising, then, that advisors are increasingly turning to outside experts for help. Schwab's 2011 RIA Benchmarking Study reveals that more than one-third (38%) of RIA firms now outsource at least some of their compliance tasks, up from 27% in 2010, and that outsourcing compliance is of high importance to the majority of those firms (79%).
Benefits of Outsourcing Compliance
Compliance outsourcing is most common among small and mid-sized firms, with more than half of RIAs with $50 million to $100 million in assets under management (AUM) using at least one outsourced solution, according to the benchmarking study.
This makes sense as smaller firms often don't possess the in-house resources needed to handle the full range of compliance tasks in addition to their other responsibilities. Also, many new RIAs (including former wirehouse brokers, whose firms had handled compliance) are looking to outsourcers to set up compliance functions properly right out of the gate. By contrast, larger firms may be better able to address compliance entirely by themselves and do so efficiently.
Advisors who outsource compliance point out several benefits. Many like knowing that their consultants or other compliance experts are keeping tabs on all the changing regulatory developments and will provide guidance on key next steps as new rules emerge.
They also report that delegating compliance to an outside firm frees up time that they can reallocate to other tasks that drive their firms' growth and profitability. As I noted in Part One, this is part of a growing trend among advisors, who are redefining which of their various duties are central to their unique value propositions and which are secondary and can be outsourced.
The Form ADV Part 2 revision is one good example of this. Many firms' principals hired compliance consultants to deal with this new rule instead of spending days figuring it out themselves. This enabled them to comply with the new regulatory requirements while also staying focused on business development and client service. Going forward, we may see advisors take similar actions around new rules, such as the filing of Form PF for SEC-registered advisors with $150 million in private assets under management.
Finally, advisors who outsource compliance have reported that they've realized significant cost savings of 26% on average versus handling compliance in house. Given these findings, it's easy to understand why 73% of advisors, according to the benchmarking study, who outsource compliance tell us that they are happy with their decision.
Outsourcing Considerations
Whether it makes sense to outsource compliance at your firm will depend on the expertise of your staff in this area and the amount of time and effort you spend on various compliance tasks relative to other important duties. Advisors' path to outsourcing compliance often begins with specific issues they're concerned about. These might include needing help with a new regulatory requirement, doing mock Securities and Exchange Commission exams to proactively spot any firm weaknesses, conducting annual compliance reviews, or creating and updating policies and procedures. If advisors' initial experience with an outsource provider on one task is positive, they may assign that provider more compliance functions.
That said the SEC likes to see evidence that firms have a "culture of compliance" and are monitoring day-to-day operations such as trading and following the proper procedures, so it may not be wise to completely outsource all aspects of your compliance program.
Most important, do plenty of due diligence when considering a compliance provider. Regardless of what or how many functions you choose to outsource, it's you–not the provider–who is ultimately responsible for compliance-related results at your firm.
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.(Schwab) is not affiliated with the content on this website and has no control over how it uses the information you share. Content posted on this website should not be considered as a recommendation, endorsement, or solicitation of any kind by Schwab. Any opinions or statements by third parties on this page are their own and may not be representative of the experience of others or indicative of future performance or success.
For general informational purposes.
Schwab Advisor Services™ serves independent investment advisors and includes the custody, trading and support services of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc ("Schwab"). Independent investment advisors are not owned, affiliated with or supervised by Schwab. (1111-7737)


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Jermaine Jackson sat down with Entertainment Tonight for an interview about Michael Jackson's former personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray's upcoming case. "I just feel like it took so long to arrest this guy," he says.
"And to just [let this linger on, it is] putting daggers in our hearts and my mother's," he tells Entertainment Tonight.
He goes on to say that the Jackson family is upset with how the case is being handle, how long it has taken and that Dr. Murrary is reportedly only expected to be charged Monday with involuntary manslaughter and not second-degree murder.
If Dr. Murray is convicted of involuntary manslaughter he could possibly serve no time behind bars.
"I think he [Murray] should be cuffed, he should be fingerprinted, he should have his mugshot just like they did my brother," Jermaine says of how he feels about Dr. Murray potentially turning himself in without being arrested.
"It could be first-degree murder, it could be whatever — Michael's not coming back, so where's the closure?" Jermaine asks. "Where is the closure?"
"I should have been smarter about what he [Murray] administered to my brother outside a hospital setting," he says. "Michael was excited about his shows and he should still be here."
For more of Jermaine's interview, tune in to Entertainment Tonight Friday, Feb. 5!
For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!


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Please consider donating online to CAC on Tuesday, November 28 for #ILGive on #GivingTuesday, and your gift will make a bigger impact on Chicago's arts community!
- $25 match if your donation is between $25-$99
- $100 match if your donation is between $100-$499
- $500 match if your donation is $500 and above
CAC administers CAR, and is a nonprofit organization that is devoted to serving and supporting artists who think deeply, push boundaries and create new paradigms. They are committed to building a diverse community of artistic leaders who define the place of art and artists in our city's culture and economy. Your support will aid artists, the arts community, and it will expand the breadth and enlarge the depth of our services. Every dollar will allow us to support emerging artists while allowing our communities to grow.
We thank you being part of our community all year, and we hope you'll consider making a donation on Tuesday 11/28. Every dollar makes a difference in our ability to champion emerging artists and provide critical artist development and support. You can also help us spread the word on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by letting your networks know about CAC & CAR's work and the chance to make a bigger impact with a donation! Please contact Sarah Dhobhany at email@example.com for more information on how to participate on social media.


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Slain Couple's Family Offers $5,000 For Information
Couple Found Dead In Home Last Spring
The children of a couple found slain last spring made a public appeal for information on Wednesday.
Bill and Peggy Stephenson were found dead in their condominium over Memorial Day weekend. Investigators have spoken to at least two persons-of-interest, but have made no arrests.
"There's not a day goes by that our hearts dont ache for losing them in such a brutal, senseless way," son Doug Stephenson said. "The killer is still walking among us, and we're convinced someone watching today has information that will lead to the arrest of the killer.
The couple's children are hoping that their appearance can generate more leads for investigators. The family is offering a $5,000 reward for information.
Investigators declined to give any additional information on the case at this time.
"Somebody knows ... some of the particulars we know," spokesman Tom Scheben said. "And they know who did this."
"We will not stop, we will never rest until those responsible are brought to justice," Sheriff Michael Helmig said.


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JeremyMx21 wrote:Do you think you will ever update the track list to where you can drag and drop the tracks up or down in the track list instead of having to use the arrows?
Also the possibility to upload multiple tracks at once would be cool.
I Feel that would make it much easier to use and be more efficient.
Yes, will try to do that when i got time. drag n drop tracks in the list may be hard to do but will try.


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A judge has ordered the release of the indictment against John and Patsy Ramsey in the death of their 6-year-old daughter, a set of documents that has been sealed since the grand jury was dismissed in 1999.
Retired Weld County Judge Robert Lowenbach ruled Wednesday that the indictment will be unsealed. His ruling was in response to a lawsuit brought by Daily Camera reporter Charlie Brennan and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press seeking the release of the unprosecuted indictment of the Ramseys.
Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett turned over the documents for Lowenbach to review Tuesday.
The Camera reported earlier this year that the Boulder County grand jury investigating the JonBenet Ramsey case voted in October 1999 to indict her parents on charges of child abuse resulting in death, but the DA at the time — Alex Hunter — refused to sign the document and prosecute the Ramseys.
The three-year statute of limitations on the reported charges in the indictment would have expired in 2002.
According to the court order, the documents submitted to the court by Garnett consist of 18 pages, nine relating to each of JonBenet's parents. It's unclear exactly how many of those pages will be released.
"It appears that the District Attorney, presumably acting at the discretion of the grand jury, prepared a series of possible charges regarding John Ramsey and Patricia Ramsey based on the fact that the child had died and that there was evidence that a sexual assault of the child had occurred," Lowenbach wrote.
He ruled that only pages signed by the foreman of the grand jury would be considered "official actions" of the grand jury and would thus be releasable.
Thomas Kelley, an attorney for Brennan and the press group, said he was not surprised Lowenbach released the documents given his earlier rulings in the case.
"I'm glad the judge stuck to his guns and released it," Kelley said.
Garnett had previously rejected two requests by the Camera and Brennan seeking the release of the indictment under the Colorado Open Records Act.
"As with every other aspect of this issue, we will handle the matter consistent with the role of the district attorney as I see it and in a way applicable with court orders," Garnett said Wednesday regarding the release of the indictment.
John Ramsey stated in a letter to Garnett on Sunday that he objected to the release of the indictment without the entire grand jury record also being released.
But in the order, Lowenbach said grand jury transcripts and other evidence did not constitute "official action" and would not be released.
"The court is sympathetic to the position of Mr. Ramsey but has nonetheless concluded that as an 'official action' of the grand jury, the 'indictment' signed by the foreman of the grand jury must be disclosed," Lowenbach wrote. "The request of Mr. Ramsey to release the entire record of the grand jury cannot be granted. Such an action would set a precedent that would impede other grand juries in performing their functions under statute and rule."
Hal Haddon, an attorney for John Ramsey who wrote the letter objecting to the release of the indictment, did not return requests for comment Wednesday.
JonBenet Ramsey was found dead Dec. 26, 1996, in the basement of her family's Boulder home, 755 15th St. — which is now 749 15th St. — several hours after Patsy Ramsey called 911 to say her daughter was missing and that a ransom note had been left behind.
On Oct. 13, 1999, more than a year after the case went to a grand jury, then-DA Hunter announced that the grand jury investigation had come to an end and that no charges would be filed due to a lack of evidence.
When reached by phone Tuesday, Hunter declined to comment on the ruling.
"I feel that I'm governed by the state statutes concerning prosecutors and grand jury hearings, and that is the basis for my no comment," Hunter said.
Contact Camera Staff Writer Mitchell Byars at 303-473-1329, firstname.lastname@example.com or twitter.com/mitchellbyars.


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One of the best features of cPanel is that it allows you to manage your mail. This allows you to work around your email accounts and perform the tasks around it. You can create emails, remove accounts, or forward emails. It is important that you have a clear picture of each and every feature of cPanel's email manager tool.
Here is a list of the tools you can utilize:
- cPanel webmail tool allows you to access the webmail programs (Horde, Squirrelmail and RoundCube) included in cPanel. You can read your emails through a web browser.
- This tool allows you to send copies of all your messages from one e-mail account to another. You can also send the messages from all the accounts with one domain to the corresponding ones with another domain.
- Email Accounts. This tool allows you to create e-mail accounts, define passwords and quotas for them. If you wish to manage the email accounts for a chosen domain, you can also do so separately.
- This tool is an automated email filtering system that is very helpful in identifying spam messages based on the content of the email's headers and body.
- Email Authentication. This tool allows to include additional details in the messages' headers so they can be automatically recognized by the recipients as legitimate e-mails.
- Auto Responders. You can use this tool to set auto responder emails.
- Import Addresses/Forwarders. This tool allows you to import e-mail addresses or forwarders from Excel spreadsheet files (.xls) or comma-separated values sheet files (.csv).
- User Level Filtering. This tool allows you to manage filters for each user. Each user's filter is processed after the main account filters.
- Account Level Filtering. You can manage the filters for the main account. You can also test the existing filters. MX Entry. You can change the MX records for your domain and define on which server to deliver the messages.
- This is an advanced spam prevention and protection system.
- Default Address. This feature will "catch" all the mails that are sent to an invalid email address for your domain.


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(Please inquire for details)
(Total Monthly Cost + additional one-time only fees)
* Calculated based on moving on the 1st of the month. Amount will differ based on the date you start your contract.
Please note that all listed fees are estimated amounts and may differ depending on your move in date, payment method, etc. Please inquire for exact costs.
Furnished apartments from 1 week to 12 months for business or sightseeing. Quick application and No guarantor required. English / Chinese / French / Spanish availableFOR RENT, FOR SALE, SHORT TERM


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Note: You can substitute the Graham Crackers with the dark chocolate wafer cookies (I buy these at Gelsons) for a different crust.
Banana Cream Pie with Caramel Drizzles and Chocolate Sauce
4 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups plus 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise and seeds scraped
3 large egg yolks
2 large eggs
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 recipe Graham Cracker Crust, recipe follows
3 pounds (about 9) firm but ripe bananas, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Caramel Sauce, recipe follows
Chocolate Sauce, recipe follows
Shaved chocolate, for garnish
Confectioner's sugar, for garnish
Combine 2 cups of the cream, the milk, 1/2 cup of the sugar, the vanilla bean, and the vanilla seeds in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle boil, whisking to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat.
Combine the egg yolks, eggs, cornstarch, and 1 cup of the sugar in a medium bowl, and whisk pale yellow in color. Set aside.
Whisk 1 cup of the hot cream mixture into the egg yolks. Gradually add the egg mixture to the hot cream, whisking constantly. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly with a large wooden spoon to cook out the cornstarch and the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. (The mixture may separate slightly. If so, remove from the heat and beat with an electric mixer until thick and smooth.) Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down against the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Chill in the refrigerator for about 4 hours.
To assemble, spread 1/2 cup of the custard over the bottom of the prepared crust, smoothing with the back of a large spoon or rubber spatula. Arrange enough banana slices (not quite one-third) in a tight, tiled pattern over the custard, pressing down with your hands to pack them firmly. Repeat to build a second layer, using 3/4 cup of the custard and enough bananas to cover, smoothing down the layer evenly. For the third layer, spread 3/4 cup of custard over the bananas and top with the remaining bananas, starting 1-inch from the outer edge and working toward the center. Spread 1 cup of custard evenly over the bananas to prevent discoloration. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
In a medium bowl, whip the cream until soft peaks form. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of sugar and the vanilla extract and whip until stiff peaks form.
Remove the pie from the refrigerator. With a sharp knife dipped in hot water, cut the pie into 10 equal slices. Transfer the slices to dessert plates. Fill a pastry bag with the whipped cream and pipe onto each slice. (Alternately, spread the whipped cream evenly over the pie before cutting.)
Drizzle each slice with the caramel sauce and chocolate sauce, sprinkle with the chocolate shavings and confectioners' sugar, and serve.
Graham Cracker Crust:
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine the graham cracker crumbs and sugar in a medium bowl and mix well. Add the butter and mix well. Press the mixture into a 9-inch pie pan. Top with aluminum pie tin and with a circular motion, press the crust tightly into the pan. Bake until browned, about 25 minutes. Cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
Yield: 1 (9-inch) crust
Caramel Sauce:
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup whole milk
Combine the sugar, water, and lemon juice in a medium, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Let boil without stirring until the mixture becomes a deep amber color, 2 to 3 minutes, watching closely so it doesn't burn. Add the cream, whisk to combine, and remove from the heat. Add the milk, 2 tablespoons at a time, until the desired consistency is reached. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature before serving with the pie. (The sauce will thicken as it cools.)
Yield: generous 3/4 cup
Chocolate Sauce:
3/4 cup half-and-half
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 pound semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Scald the half-and-half and butter in a small, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Remove from the heat.
Place the chocolate and vanilla in a medium, heat-proof bowl. Add the hot half-and-half and let sit for 2 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Serve slightly warm. (The sauce can be kept refrigerated in an airtight container for several days, but it must be returned to room temperature before serving.
Yield: generous 3/4 cup


text:
After reading this entire post it seems that there is no change in the implementation of live view. I had wished that there would be. That is the real hurdle for Phase One.
You'll never see really workable Live View unless MFDB manufacturers move to CMOS sensors. Is it desirable for them to do so, I don't know? Here's a little chip primer. The fact that P1 and Blad haven't switched tells me there must be great hurdles to implementing MFDB CMOS... Hell, if there wasn't, RED would have done it already.
Yes, suffice it to say that DxO's definition of and method of measuring dynamic range is not the same as Phase One.
I'm sure live view is not the real hurdle that makes many people choose the DSLR -- it is the cost.
I don't know the science behind these cameras, but I can see the results.Personally I see a slight to major difference in color detail between ccd and cmos.I don't or really care if it comes from format size, sensor, filter or lenses, I just see it.Medium format seems less global in color that my 35mm colors, but that's not always good, depends on what you shoot, depends on the brand, depends on the post production.If I'm going to dive deep into a file from my ccd cameras I will see every bit of slight discoloration in a face or skin, or even the whole scene. That's the downside, but the upside is if I need all the colors to work a file deep then the ccd is easier for me to get there than cmos.Not to go of topic but . . . Man if you could just get the best of both formats, medium format and 35mm you'd probably really have something.I tried the one camera fits all routine, for stills and for video and I don't think it's there. Still cameras that really go to high speed like the Canon 1dx are much different in operation than a Nikon d800, much, much different than a digital back and much different than a dedicated digital video camera.The bottom line to me is you can do just about everything with a 35mm cmos, camera, you just can't do everything perfectly.When the Pentax came out, I thought finally medium format kind of woke up to the new realities professional photographers faced. Cost close to the 1 series Canons, big viewfinder for manual focus, in camera jpegs for better lcd viewing, quick web galleries, 4:3 vertical crop, reasonably priced lenses.I've gone into a store to buy that camera 5 times and always walked off. Just two slow on write speeds and the new lenses are very expensive and there is no professional tethering option.For some the write times won't matter, but next week we shoot for an apparel client on three locations, 29 set ups per day. Not 29 shots, 29 setups.Given that this project is sunlight dependent, so 8 hours of shooting, if everything goes smooth. That's 17 minutes a session. Seriously 17 minutes.Now add in the wait time on a Pentax previews along with the difficulty in tethering and if you lose 90 seconds to 2 minutes a session, that is 3 shots that don't get done.Add the fact that almost every project we do requires some video and the compression of time is evident.Add the cost of starting up with a new platform like the pentax and 4 new lenses and one body is slightly under 20 grand. With backup body add another 9.Going to a new Phase back is nearly $40,000 using my current contax platform, and though the improvements of the IQ are attractive, $40,000 in todays world of every shrinking budgets is a lot and in my case, that doesn't improve my camera platform.It doesn't take a genius to see why the d800 is attractive. I'd buy a d800 because I own all the new Nikon glass and the camera body compared to the costs I've just mentioned is virtually free. The problem I have is I don't think the look of the Nikon glass is very pretty.(That's just a personal opinion).To me the company that could rock the world is Pentax, if they up their game. I don't think they need a wholesale change, just a one step improvement in write speed, slightly better 800 to 1600 iso processing and a tethering solution that's robust.Or maybe Leaf. If Leaf plays off the Phase tech and can come in at a better price point with the mamiya and Leaf all in one combination they have an opening.Or, maybe Hasselblad if they take their 40mpx camera, amortize the price down to compete at Pentax levels, they could be a solution.IMOBC
Is it? Despite being as "bad" as it is, isn't it still the best when compared to the other medium format brands? And if we take DSLRs into the equation I'm sure live view is not the real hurdle that makes many people choose the DSLR -- it is the cost.
.............When the Pentax came out, I thought finally medium format kind of woke up to the new realities professional photographers faced. Cost close to the 1 series Canons, big viewfinder for manual focus, in camera jpegs for better lcd viewing, quick web galleries, 4:3 vertical crop, reasonably priced lenses.I've gone into a store to buy that camera 5 times and always walked off. Just two slow on write speeds and the new lenses are very expensive and there is no professional tethering option.....................BC
Hum... Focusing 4x5 optimally in low light with movements applied was already a nightmare even with the best GG and cameras featuring assymetric tilt, I am wondering how you guys do it with much higher density devices.Pre-calibration is hardly a solution when tilt comes in the picture, which is the main value of tech cameras in my view.Cheers,Bernard
Hey Rob,How bout not putting out the bad Ju Ju.I thought you English were tuff.My wife's from London and she's the toughest person I know.Maybe it's cause your from the North . . . right? (insert smiley face)Hey man, there are two ways to do life. Accept it or go home. I accept it and in a strange way kind of dig it, because our schedule separates the amateurs from the pros.I have the best crew I've had in my career and they work with surgical precision. To complete what's coming up next week, we will never look hurried, never look panicked.Anyway, I'm not retirement age and if I was I still wouldn't want to quit.When I was 25 I had two billion photos in me and not enough time to do them. Heck in a week I think of a million more.Really the most stressful part of our life isn't shoot days. Shoot days are like a vacation.It's pre production, which is huge, post production which is huge, but behind that it's the biz and the politics.Everyday I get a request for a file, a retouching change, a video edit, repurposing of data.Then there gig your doing for an agency and the client gets involved, or the direct gig you have from the client and the agency gets involved.Or the 4 revised estimates, (minimum), or the creative treatments you do six times (minimum).Add to that we work everywhere so today I get a request from Australia for an edit (Sunday), last week I was doing concept changes at 4am (LA times with a client in Munich).I'm not complaining cause I'm working and I like working.I need purpose, I need a deadline, I need a reason.The industry changedI get it and changed with it, but it's not as bad as people think.Just different.IMOBCBernhard,If someone offers you a $40,000 back and you don't take it, give me a call.
29 setups a day and you call it a vacation..... sounds pretty miserable especially if your other days are worse.Is it really worth it? There is a lot more to life that photos. It's particularly ironic that quite a bit of what you shootis called lifestyle... happy relaxed people.I second Rob's comment. No point ending up in a pine box even if you've worked so much that it's a mahoganybox instead of pine.Personally I found my workaholic period to be my least productive period of my life. Dedicating a lot of time to differentthings makes all of them more enjoyable.Each to his own... we all have our addictions... I kitesurfed a few to many hours today... it was bliss.. Malibu was beautifultoday from the Ocean. Well I'm off for my daily midnight hike in the Santa Monica Mountains. A half hour of ocean air before sleep.No client is going to keep me up till 4am. You know unless your client runs a sweat shop he'll be OK with you getting a bit of sleep.
Each to his own... we all have our addictions... I kitesurfed a few to many hours today... it was bliss.. Malibu was beautifultoday from the Ocean. Well I'm off for my daily midnight hike in the Santa Monica Mountains. A half hour of ocean air before sleep.
Bernard,Doug has some postings on the issue.http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=75145.msg599955#msg599955http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=75145.msg599887#msg599887I also think that Doug mentioned using a tilt calculator.One thing I know that I have problems focusing on ground glass, but I have corrective eye glasses that doesn't make live easier.LV really helps, if subject is not moving to fast. I use it all the time, specially long lenses.Best regardsErik
BC. Simply Bravo. Why play small? Pursue your passion. It's a funny thing about photography..... You actually have to do it, to be good at it. Fred. I would love to see some of your pictures from your "work-a-holic" period. Why don't you have a website? Why do you call BC's love of his art and dedication to his craft an addiction? By the way... We all end up in a pine box. So why let fear control us? Why let our fears control how others run there lives? And really taking midnite walks sounds lonely. Sounds really deep. Did you ever read about Buddhism? There is a tenet about...going to the mountaintop for enlightment. And it basically says that the enlightment you find on the mountaintop is that which you brought with you.Regards,Jeffery+1.You've found your calling in life when work is play and play is work. I'd rather do something I'm passionate about than struggle everyday----or gripe about something incessantly. When that happens, it's time to walk away. Nobody likes a nattering nay-bob of negativity.ken
The ground glass has got more bashing on this forum than it deserves. All it takes is a strong loupe and some confidence . Oh, well seriously, it can be a problem depending on your eyesight status, but I believe that more can work with it successfully than one might think. The biggest mistake I see is that people use too weak loupes. I use a 20x.As a view camera user (Linhof Techno) I actually don't see the lack of live view to be that problematic for actual picture making. However the view camera would of course be more elegant and lighter (and cheaper) if I could ditch the sliding back and focus on the digital back directly.It should also be said that part of the difficulty in focusing is not actually dimness or ground glass, but that the widest aperture is relatively small, i e an f/5.6 is harder to focus than a f/1.4 due to the softer focus peaking. That is a property that we cannot move away from as wide aperture lens designs would destroy many of the properties that makes up the quality of large format digital. So it will always be a bit more difficult to work with, but not *too* difficult.


text: Dior Homme is a male brand and an entity of the prestigious French luxury-fashion house Christian Dior. The first Dior Homme store was launched in the international style capital, Milan, in 2002. However, Dior Homme and its male audience had been available under the name Dior Monsieur since the 1970's. With religious detail to detail and the use of striking colour, Kris Van Assche – current creative designer – has helped to propel Dior Homme into one of luxury fashion's most revered brands. Dior Homme has been endorsed by an assortment of celebrity – from Brad Pitt to David Beckham – to appeal to and access the male market. Balancing a hipster and Paris chic aesthetic, Dior Homme's range of spectacles project confidence and ensure a strong, durable and stylish product. With frame styles ranging from pilot to rectangular and encompassing a wide variety of colour from green Havana to shiny black, you'll find a look to suit your face and wardrobe. Using versatile materials like acetate and ruthenium in creating a slim silhouette; Dior Homme eyewear will stand the exertions of time, whatever activity or occasion you are partaking in. Take our word for it and explore Glasses Station's brilliant range of Dior Homme eyewear ready to browse over. Find the perfect pair of prestigious glasses to give you celebrity and Parisian look, such as the best-selling men's 0221 model, with a pilot frame and finished with shiny black, dark ruthenium material.All Dior Homme Glasses


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Arsene Wenger: No quit thoughts
Defiant Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has not thought about quitting the job this week, despite enduring more disappointment in a challenging season.
The Gunners boss has found his position under intense scrutiny, after a midweek 3-1 defeat in the Champions League by Bayern Munich followed on from their shock FA Cup exit at home to Blackburn and Capital One Cup loss to Bradford.
The 63-year-old - whose side are set for an eighth season without silverware - reacted angrily earlier this week to "lies" the club had already opened talks over a new deal, with his current contract set to expire in 2014.
However, despite the negativity surrounding his squad, Wenger says he is not about to walk away from the challenges ahead - insisting his desire for the job burns as bright as ever.
Asked directly if he had considered his position this week, Wenger replied: "Never. Not one second.
"I don't think that (motivation) spark has anything to do with the length of your life. It is just that's how you are and you're motivated by how much you want to win and how much you are a winner.
"If I go out now and play one against one with you, you will see I will beat you and at least if I don't manage to beat you, I will want to beat you. That will not change as long as I can move."
Wenger believes there needs to be a sense of "perspective" around achievements at the Emirates Stadium, with Arsenal having continued to qualify for the Champions League despite testing financial circumstances.
"We live in a world of emotion, of excess, and it is down to people who have responsibilities to put that into perspective and keep solid and keep guiding the club in the right way," said Wenger, whose side will look to maintain their improving Barclays Premier League form at home to struggling Aston Villa tomorrow.
"My responsibility is to keep the guidelines and guide the team and the club in what I feel is the right way.
"What is important for me is to focus on the next game and try to give my best, like all the players."
Arsenal's regular board meeting on Thursday was attended by majority shareholder Stan Kroenke, who also watched Tuesday's Bayern game.
Wenger, though, insisted it was very much a case of business as usual.
He said: "The meeting speaks about many things. Commercial, ticket prices, long term plans. I make my report as well on the technical side, so it was the usual thing.
"Of course we had no euphoria because we have gone through a disappointment on Tuesday night but apart from that we are responsible people who know what it is to fight."
Arsenal are set to announce their latest interim financial results next week, which are expected to show another healthy cash reserve to be ploughed back into the squad in the summer - although at a reduced level should they fail to secure Champions League football again next season.
Wenger, though, remains confident Arsenal can come through this testing spell.
He said: "What we need is to be united and strong, and not to be destabilised by people who have strong opinions after one game.
"I believe what is important is that the club always goes with the guidelines we have and do not change direction every time we lose a big game, that would lead to a disaster.
"A bad period for a club is also a good opportunity to show how united and strong you are. We have a good history of that at Arsenal.
"I have a contract until the end of 2014 and at the moment we are on a short-term plan.
"This is for two reasons, because I am here for a long time and as well I have to consider what I want to do. That will be decided in 2014, not before."
Full-back Bacary Sagna is out of Saturday's game with a knee problem but Wenger refuted reports the France international wants to leave the club.


text:
Central Connecticut women's basketball freshman Lauren Wolosik was named Choice Hotels/Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week on Monday afternoon. Wolosik scored a career-high 15 points in CCSU's 65-58 victory over Rhode Island on Wednesday night.
Wolosik took advantage of her 20 minutes of court time to spark the Blue Devils (1-2). Coming off the bench, she recorded 15 points and sank a tie-breaking three-pointer late in regulation. Wolosik, who also logged two rebounds and one steal in the Blue Devils' first win of the season, finished 4-for-4 shooting from the field and drained 6 of 8 attempts from the charity stripe.
Her lone three-point attempt of the game could not have come at a better time. Rhode Island, which had been trailing since the 19:08 mark of the first half, finally pulled even at 53-53 with 2:55 remaining in regulation. On the ensuing possession, Wolosik put CCSU back in front for good by nailing a three-ball with 2:32 left.
The Blue Devils defeated Rhode Island 65-58.
The Blue Devils will return to action on Wednesday night against New Hampshire. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Detrick Gym. Fans can also watch live on NECFrontRow.com.


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The rain turned into snow sometime around 8:00 last night. I wasn't paying attention between 7 and 9, but by 9 it had snowed enough to make things white.
I had to drop my wife off at work last night, and we saw cars slippin' and slidin' all over the place. It was kind of funny since none of them actually hit anything nor were in the path to hitting us. I'm sure there are at least 2 people who had to change their shorts when they got to their destination.
This morning, road crews had somewhat tamed the pavement, but snow was still coming down. I really should have worn the ski goggles but didn't think to. At 23 degrees, it was a bit too warm to be sealing my face off from the elements. Maybe my clear safety glasses would have been a better choice. Because of the snow, my two and a half mile ride this morning was done mostly squinting or blinking rapidly.
The bus was a bit late -- to be expected. I still had time to kick it with Lorin and JR over coffee. I practiced my sideways snow-throwing skid pulling into City Center Square. That's always a crowd-pleaser as long as I don't eat it while showing off.
Here are some weather-ish photos from the past couple of days:
Yesterday, while eating lunch before going to City Hall:
Last night (that's not a blurry photo, that's snow and fog):
This morning from my break room:
Random Tunage:
Aurora - Ordinary World (Condor Remix) [cover of Ordinary World by Duran Duran]
Cybersonik - Technarchy
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
A Mess in the making
The rain turned into snow sometime around 8:00 last night. I wasn't paying attention between 7 and 9, but by 9 it had snowed enough to make things white.
4 comments:
first picture is very cool,
- February 06, 2008 11:55 AM
- Apertome said...
Great photos! I particularly like the first one, but they are all excellent.
The side-skid sounds fun. I've sorta thought about trying that but knowing me, I'd eat it if I tried something fancy like that.
We may have a mess on our hands tonight/tomorrow. It's been raining for days and we should get a freeze overnight. Tomorrow may be interesting ... then again, last time I thought that nothing happened. We'll see.
Speaking of photos, did you get that print I sent?
- February 06, 2008 4:19 PM
- dvicci said...
The first picture, previously mentioned as "very cool" looks to be right across the street from UMB. That's where I used to work waaay back in the day before I got into infosec.
If I'm mis-identifying the building, then it's not where I used to work. The building, that is. Not UMB.
- February 06, 2008 4:33 PM
- Noah said...
That is, in fact, UMB's big building downtown. That was taken from within Jimmy John's at the south-east corner 11th and Grand looking north-west.
- February 06, 2008 5:02 PM
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text:
Story highlights
- "Tawny crazy ants'" could change ecological balances
- Crazy ants likely to overwhelm fire ants and "whack" them, researcher says
- Species originated in South America
- Crazy ants hitchhike with humans to spread
Beware the "crazy ants."
Researchers at the University of Texas are warning that the invasive species from South America has the potential to change the ecological balance in the southeastern United States, largely because the ants can wipe out colonies of what's been widely considered the insect villain of the region, the fire ant.
The crazy ants, officially called "Tawny crazy ants," are omnivores that can take over an area by both killing what's there and starving out what they don't kill, said Ed LeBrun, a research associate with the Texas invasive species research program at the Brackenridge Field Laboratory in the College of Natural Sciences.
"Perhaps the biggest deal is the displacement of the fire ant, which is the 300-pound gorilla in Texas ecosystems these days," LeBrun said in a press release. "The whole system has changed around fire ants. Things that can't tolerate fire ants are gone. Many that can have flourished. New things have come in. Now we are going to go through and whack the fire ants and put something in its place that has a very different biology. There are going to be a lot of changes that come from that."
Beyond the troubles they cause for the environment, the crazy ants can be a big headache for people because their populations are so dense, LeBrun said.
The crazy ants nest in walls, crawl spaces, house plants or empty containers in the yard, researchers said.
"They don't sting like fire ants do, but aside from that they are much bigger pests," he said. "There are videos on YouTube of people sweeping out dustpans full of these ants from their bathroom. You have to call pest control operators every three or four months just to keep the infestation under control. It's very expensive."
The crazy ants are going so crazy, in fact, that some people want their fire ants back, LeBrun said.
"Fire ants are in many ways very polite. They live in your yard. They form mounds and stay there, and they only interact with you if you step on their mound," he said.
Scientists are unsure how far the ants, which are native to Argentina and Brazil, may spread in the U.S. Since being first seen in Houston in 2002, they've been found mostly in wetter environments with mild winters in parts of Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.
And while they can quickly overwhelm a small area, the reproductive members of the species don't fly, so to move over large distances, they have to hitchhike -- in your stuff.
"If people living in or visiting invaded areas are careful and check for the crazy ants when moving or going on longer trips, they could have a huge impact on the spread," LeBrun said.


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|4th at Bandon Dunes is good example
In today's day and age of golf design, it's pretty rare to find an architect would present a hole in this manner. In fact in this world of "comfort" architecture – the main overriding philosophy is putting everything in front of player right from the tee so they can see it and understand the strategies. The idea of unveiling a hole a shot at a time is rare since this type of hole isn't quite as photographic as a hole that unveils itself slowly. This MTV style attention span has spread to golf too – and people simply want it all and want it now – even in golf design. One of the great losses because of this is the near disappearance of a technique called compression and release.
What is compression and release? Compression is when you find yourself in a location that is narrow, very clear defined with no long views. To excellent examples are playing out of a chute of trees or playing a tee shot from a tee surrounded by higher dunes on either side. You don't have a feel for the landscape around and only feel the edges on the landscape that you are "with-in." In these situations you find that the golf hole is the clear single focus. The release is felt when you exit that space to a wider area with a long horizon. You immediately feel the expanse of the space around you and tend to look anywhere but at the hole. It's actually an instinctive reaction to the change – but a fascinating aspect that can be exploited to have a larger impact on a setting you want to feature.
The 4th at Bandon Dunes is a wonderful example where David Kidd takes you between the dunes and out to the landing area. When you get there you find yourself well above the 4th green with a wide open view down the coast. You can't help but be humbled by that experience and it takes you a while to really take in the green, since your busy admiring the stunning Oregon coastline. David did this intentionally so you're your first look at the ocean would be as dramatic as possible. The technique he used is compression (down between the dunes) and release (having as wide a view as you get anywhere on the course).
The hole I saw works on the same principle but on a far more subtle level. The tee shot is into a clearly defined tree lined valley that feels tighter than it really is because of the elevated tees and angle. You walk down to the landing area and look to the left to see a spectacular green set up on a natural hogs back. The valley is wider, the clearing is more extensive, and looking from below widens the perspective of the view. You are stunned by the beauty of the green site but also taken back by how beautiful this glade is and how much of the natural undulations of the land that you nw can see. This too is compression and release but a far more subtle version.


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Hewlett-Packard claimed Tuesday that there were substantial instances of financial fraud in connection with its acquisition of the software company Autonomy in 2011, and took a one-time $8.8 billion accounting charge.
The company's stock plunged 11 percent by the end of the day.
In its routine quarterly report, the Silicon Valley tech giant based in Palo Alto alleged that there was serious fraud and misrepresentation on the part of Autonomy, a British company. Autonomy's former CEO Mike Lynch said HP's allegations are false, according to reports.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
The earnings disclosure showed the company lost nearly $7 billion in the fourth quarter and $12.7 billion for the fiscal year. Its quarterly sales of $30 billion were down 7 percent from the same period a year ago and its $120 billion in fiscal-year sales were off 5 percent from the previous year.
Analysts had always thought the purchase was a mistake and that backlash from the purchase led to the ouster of former CEO Leo Apotheker. Now, many insiders and experts are claiming this wasn't just a mistake but a disaster.
Speaking on CNBC Tuesday morning, CEO Meg Whitman said she "regrets" voting for the purchase when she was on the HP board, and is "seeking redress." She added that the case of "serious accounting improprieties" and the "willful effort to deceive" is now in the hands of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In the same breath, Whitman said she wanted to "take Autonomy and grow it."
To see the whole interview, click here.
She stated to Marketplace's Kai Ryssdal on Tuesday afternoon that she relied on the accounting of Deloitte, who isn't just a "Brand X'' accounting and auditing firm before buying Autonomy, and that she expected this issue to wind its way through both the U.S. and U.K. courts.
That's also the conclusion of San Francisco attorney Mark Fickes, a former SEC prosecutor. Fickes told NBC Bay Area that Whitman's "willful effort to deceive" statement most likely means HP and Autonomy are heading to court. With nearly $9-billion of investor money on the line, this whole thing screams "court case."
This all is bad news for investors, according to CNBC's Silicon Valley Bureau Chief Jon Fortt. "This is how big companies die", Fortt said. "I'm not saying HP is dead yet, but if they don't turn things around, they could be in big trouble."


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Bulbed-out: Traffic calming riles neighbors
The Woolen Mills Neighborhood Association has long wanted sidewalks on Chesapeake Street, particularly along the treacherously narrow, hilly section that leads to Riverview Park. The city finally has drawn up plans to put in sidewalks, but some residents who don't belong to the neighborhood association are peeved to discover they're getting more than sidewalks on their block.
Eleanor Willson couldn't figure out why the city sent a letter asking her for a 20-foot easement in front of her house when she already has a sidewalk.
She called Charlottesville's planning department and was told that three green spaces, called "bulb-outs," were going to be added to the north side of the 1300-block of Chesapeake street– and that she would have to maintain the one in front of her house. Bulb-outs are much like the traffic calming projections on heavily traveled Park Street.
"I have no driveway," says Willson. "This would affect parking. Am I supposed to park 10 blocks up and schlepp my groceries home?" she asks.
"What irritates me the most is this is being done in a secretive manner," complains Willson. She says the city's letter to her said nothing about bulb-outs.
"Apparently, I have to belong to the Woolen Mills Neighborhood Association to know what's going on," says Doris Reuschling, who lives across the street from Willson.
The city did not mail letters to Reuschling or others living on the south side of the street. She learned of the plans only by talking to a neighbor.
She fears bulb-outs like those on Park Street "cause more problems than they solve" and take away limited parking. "I talked to the city about the loss of parking, and the response was, 'They can park across the street,'" recounts Reuschling. "And where is the person across the street going to park?"
Neighborhood planner Brian Haluska says that the plans have been available in the neighborhood development offices since October, and points out that a November 29 neighborhood meeting was advertised throughout the neighborhood, "We talked it over with a large assembled group of residents," he says. "We feel we have consensus."
Reuschling wonders if other residents simply didn't notice flyers among all the yard sale and lost dog signs that pepper the east-of-downtown neighborhood. And, anyway, a flyer advertising a "sidewalk meeting" didn't grab her attention because she has no objections to a sidewalk.
Haluska says the bulb-outs are primarily to provide green space and will eliminate, at most, just one parking space. The bulb-out in front of Willson's house won't take up her entire frontage, he says.
Reuschling is hesitant to comment on plans she hasn't seen– and she thinks that's the problem. "I'm really upset the city didn't let us know," she says.
Sidewalks on Chesapeake Street were first requested in 2001 as part of the Woolen Mills capital improvement plan. The $30K allotted by the city that year didn't cover sidewalks– nor did it the next year and the next.
As a result, says Haluska, the city has changed the way it does neighborhood capital improvements, pooling money for projects individual neighborhoods can't afford. With the green-space bulb-outs, the Chesapeake Street sidewalk project is pegged at $250,000.
"Every time I go to a meeting about Woolen Mills," Haluska says, "Chesapeake sidewalks come up– every single time."
As president of the Woolen Mills Neighborhood Association, Allison Ewing hears a lot about traffic. So while working with the city to get sidewalks, "We said, okay, let's put that [capital improvement fund] toward traffic calming," she explains.
Another concern she hears is that sidewalks will change Woolen Mills' rural feel. "The planting strips and bulb-outs enhance the rural feel," says Ewing, who is developing a row of modern houses on nearby Riverside Avenue.
About 30 neighbors showed up at the November 29 meeting, Ewing estimates, and endorsed the bulb-out plan by a show of hands. "People who object most to that are people who front onto the bulb-out," she says. "People want them, but just don't want them in front of their house."
"I'm curious if the person requesting this is having it done in front of their house," says Reuschling from the other end of Chesapeake Street. "People affected by this haven't had a chance to voice our opinion."
"I wish we could please everyone, but it's the greater good of the neighborhood versus individual concerns of property owners," says Ewing. "I support the bulb-outs for the greater good."
Eleanor Willson does not plan to give the city the 20-foot temporary easement it requested to tie driveways in with the sidewalk.
That won't necessarily stop the bulb-out. Says Haluska, "The bulb-outs are in the public right of way, so we don't need easements for them."
City planning manager Angela Tucker met with Reuschling and her neighbors at her house January 23. According to attendee Kevin Cox, Tucker agreed to provide five different options– including the neighbors' favorite, speed humps– upon which the residents of the Meade Park end of Chesapeake Street may vote.
You snooze, you lose: Eleanor Willson discovers that by not attending Woolen Mills Neighborhood Association Meetings, she may end up with a parking-space-eating bulb-out in front of her house.


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EWG News and Analysis
The latest from EWG's staff of experts >>
NY Schools Going Greener to Protect Children
New legislation in New York State requires schools to use greener cleaning products. The new regulations, backed by the state School Boards Association and the largest NY teachers union, aim to protect children from the risks of chronic low-level exposure to toxic chemicals. Both public and private elementary and secondary schools are required to comply by limiting the purchase of new products to those on the official NY state list of green cleaners. Traditional cleaning products are known contributors to indoor air pollution, which can be two to five times higher than out-of-doors. NY-based nonprofit, Grassroots Environmental Education, believes the new guidelines are not stringent enough and should be extended to cover more chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system. [Source]


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Bonnie and Richard Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law
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We're 3/4 of the way through The 12 Days of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness and seeking feedback.
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NEW ORLEANS — The home of the New Orleans Saints and site of six Super Bowls will be renamed the Mercedes-Benz Superdome under a deal with the German automaker, the team and company said Tuesday.
The deal will allow Mercedes-Benz USA to have its name associated with championships in college and pro football and men's college basketball over the next 16 months. The stadium has also hosted a Republican presidential convention and a visit from the pope, and once served as refuge for thousands of miserable victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said Mercedes-Benz USA is signing on for a 10-year naming-rights agreement, with terms of the deal to be made public Tuesday afternoon. The team holds authority to sell naming rights to the state-owned stadium through their lease on the 73,000-seat stadium. The team's lease runs through 2025.
"The joining of the Mercedes-Benz brand with the world-class Saints organization and the Superdome, an iconic destination which has undergone an incredible transformation over the past six years, is a significant moment for us, the City of New Orleans, and the State of Louisiana," said Ernst Lieb, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, in a prepared statement.
Mercedes-Benz also owns naming rights to arenas in Shanghai and in Stuttgart, Germany.
Andrew Zimbalist, a Smith College professor who studies sports economics, said the economy has made the sale of naming rights difficult lately. He said that the British bank Barclays paid less than expected in 2007 for naming rights for the Brooklyn arena that will house the NBA's Nets, as did the MetLife insurance company in a deal this summer for naming rights to the New Jersey stadium where the Jets and Giants play football. He also cited the fact that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has yet to sell naming rights for his stadium that opened in June of 2009.
"It's been a very difficult time to sell naming rights," Zimbalist said on Tuesday.
The Superdome opened in 1975. It has gone through many renovations, including a massive rebuild after Katrina ripped off its roof when the storm struck in August 2005.
Used as a refuge after Katrina, the Superdome was considered a total loss by some lawmakers, who debated if it was worth restoring after the 2005 storm. The roof had been torn off and the building flooded. Evacuees filled the building, stewing in the heat without lights, air conditioning or working bathrooms, a scene that epitomized the chaos of the disaster.
The stadium reopened for the 2006 Saints season as the first part of a multiphase $336 million renovation project paid for by the state that was completed this past summer. Since the storm workers have replaced, refurbished and added seats; created new club facilities and luxury suites; and installed new video systems and scoreboards. The Saints' locker room was also expanded to twice its old size. The exterior has also been refurbished.
"Having big upcoming events is attractive to those wanting naming rights," Zimbalist said. "But as strange as it sounds, the role the Superdome had during Katrina and the attention it drew probably turned out to be a positive.
Upcoming events are expected to attract an affluent demographic targeted by the automaker that's owned by German-based Daimler AG. The Sugar Bowl and BCS college football championship are scheduled in January 2012, followed by the NCAA's men's Final Four basketball championships in April 2012 and the Super Bowl in 2013.
The stadium was the site of a 1987 visit by Pope John Paul II and the 1988 Republican National Convention, at which George H.W. Bush was nominated for president. The stadium was also home to the New Orleans Jazz until the franchise moved to Salt Lake City in the late 1970s.
Built at the edge of the New Orleans business district, the stadium has a place in local lore, which holds it was built on the site of a former cemetery. In voodoo-conscious New Orleans, some speculated that was one reason why the Saints didn't have a winning record from their first season in 1967 until 1987. Their break-out season came after Pope John Paul II celebrated mass before thousands on the stadium floor.
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